What to Consider When Getting a Dog in Retirement

Retirement is one of the biggest changes of your life. Although it is something that we often look forward to during our busy working years, when the time finally comes, the big changes and the lack of the familiar routine can cause some people to worry and become upset or depressed. This is a perfectly normal response to big changes in life and there are many things that you can do to help you to cope with this transition.

Something that many people who have retired find helps them is owning a dog. Dogs are amazingly good company, so can help to combat those feelings of loneliness, they thrive on routine and structure, so can help to bring that back to your life, and they are also great at keeping you fit and healthy with all of those walks! If you are thinking about welcoming a dog into your home when you retire, here are some of the things to consider before you go ahead…

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The Exercise Needs – All dogs need exercise but the levels that they require can vary a lot. Some breeds need hours of exercise a day to stay healthy, whereas other breeds and older dogs need less. It is always a good idea to do plenty of research on this and to check before you get taken in by a dog that looks cute, what sort of exercise levels you will need to provide for your dog, and whether you will be able to keep up with this. A really good tip is to practice – before you get a dog, go for a walk every day, rain or shine and work out how long you can comfortably walk for in all weathers.

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Your Home and Garden – Your home and garden will need to be suitable for a dog – whether you live in a retirement property like these park homes Gloucestershire http://www.parkhomelife.com/our-parks/orchard-park-homes-gloucester-gloucestershire or a flat in a town, there is usually a dog that will fit in well, you just need to make sure that you can give it what it needs from a home. If you rent a property, you will probably also need to get permission from your landlord to have a dog in it.

The Health of the Dog – This is something that you should be aware of too. If you are buying a puppy from a breeder, beware of scammers and puppy farms. Go to a breeder that puts the health of the puppies above anything else and try to get recommendations on good breeders in the Kennel Club. If you are getting a dog from a rescue centre, they will be able to talk through the health requirements of the dogs with you.